The Docket 2/5: Golden Bears Look To Complete Stanford Sweep
By Phil Watson
Jan 2, 2014; Stanford, CA, USA; California Golden Bears guard Justin Cobbs (1) works around Stanford Cardinal center Grant Verhoeven (30) during the second half at Maples Pavilion. California won 69-62. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Fresh off their upset of then-No. 1, undefeated Arizona on Saturday, the Cal Golden Bears (15-7) return to the Haas Pavilion hardwood Wednesday night looking to complete a season sweep of their archrival, the Stanford Cardinal (14-7).
If there’s one surefire way to help prevent a letdown after such a huge and emotional win, it’s having the next game be against your most hated rival. In the bigger picture, Cal is tied with UCLA for second place in the Pac-12 Conference at 6-3, Stanford is in a group of five (yes, five) teams tied for fourth at 5-4. So for seeding for the conference tournament next month, this game is kind of a big deal.
The Golden Bears won the first meeting at Maples Pavilion to open the conference slate on Jan. 2, posting a 69-62 victory. The Cardinal followed that up with a loss at Oregon State before upsetting then-No. 17 Oregon to get their first conference win.
The Golden Bears now lead the all-time series 144-116 after being swept by Stanford a year ago. Tipoff is 6 p.m.
Elsewhere on The Docket for Wednesday:
NBA: Toronto Raptors (26-22) at Sacramento Kings (16-32), 7 p.m.
The Kings have a chance to climb back out of the Western Conference basement with a win after breaking their seven-game losing streak on Monday against the Bulls.
Toronto also comes to town off a win, taking down the Jazz in Salt Lake City Monday night. This is the first of two meetings this season with the Raptors; the Kings make the return trip to the Great White North on March 7.
Sacramento has won the last three in the series with Toronto, including a 107-100 win at home on Dec. 5, 2012.
At home, the Kings have dominated the series, to the tune of a 14-2 mark against the Raptors, whose last win in Sacramento came on Dec. 26, 2008, snapping a string of 10 straight home-court wins for the Kings over Toronto.
And then of course, there’s that whole seven-player trade two months ago … thing. This will be the first trip back to Sacramento for former Kings Patrick Paterson, John Salmons, Chuck Hayes and Greivis Vasquez since they were traded to the Raptors for Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray on Dec. 9.
NHL: Dallas Stars (26-21-9) at San Jose Sharks (35-16-6), 7:30 p.m.
The Sharks are coming off about as ugly a loss as a team can take—surrendering four third-period goals Monday night in a home-ice loss to the Flyers. Dallas has won its last two as it battles for a playoff spot in the loaded Western Conference.
The former Pacific Division rivals are now on opposite sides in the West after this season’s realignment juggled the Stars to the Central Division. This is the last of three meetings between Dallas and San Jose this season; the teams have traded shootout victories, with the Stars winning 4-3 in Dallas on Oct. 17 and the Sharks returning the favor at the SAP Center 3-2 on Dec. 21.
Since the Stars moved to Dallas in 1993, the Sharks are 24-20-10 at home against them. They’ve won the last two meetings with the Stars in their own building.
Thursday Lookahead
NBA
Chicago at Warriors, 7:30 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Cal State Northridge at UC Davis, 7 p.m.
USF at San Diego, 7 p.m.
Pacific at Pepperdine, 7 p.m.
Northern Arizona at Sacramento State, 7:05 p.m.
Saint Mary’s at Loyola Marymount, 8 p.m.
Santa Clara at BYU, 8 p.m.